Le Rabelais ressuscité (1611) de Nicolas de Horry et la tradition des mandements joyeux

Abstract

This article discusses the role of mandements joyeux or joyful writs in the novel Rabelais ressuscité (1611) by the little-known French author Nicolas de Horry. The article first provides insight into the tradition and parodic nature of joyful writs. In a next step, the joyful writs in Horry’s text are identified, and the functions of these parodic passages in the narrative structure of the novel are analysed. Finally, the article demonstrates how an institutional approach to this Early Modern novel, concentrating on the identification of possible readers of the text, can contribute to a better understanding of the critical content of the joyful writs.